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CrimeDrama

Call Northside 777

- It couldn't happen... but it did!

In 1932, a cop is killed and Frank Wiecek sentenced to life. Eleven years later, a newspaper ad by Frank's mother leads Chicago reporter P.J. O'Neal to look into the case. For some time, O'Neal continues to believe Frank guilty. But when he starts to change his mind, he meets increased resistance from authorities unwilling to be proved wrong.

Release Date : 1948-02-13

Language :EnglishGermanPolish

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : 20th Century Fox

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

James Stewart

Character Name : P.J. 'Jim' McNeal

Original Name : James Stewart

Gender : Male

Richard Conte

Character Name : Frank W. Wiecek

Original Name : Richard Conte

Gender : Male

Lee J. Cobb

Character Name : Brian Kelly

Original Name : Lee J. Cobb

Gender : Male

Helen Walker

Character Name : Laura McNeal

Original Name : Helen Walker

Gender : Female

Betty Garde

Character Name : Wanda Skutnik

Original Name : Betty Garde

Gender : Female

Kasia Orzazewski

Character Name : Tillie Wiecek

Original Name : Kasia Orzazewski

Gender : Female

Joanne De Bergh

Character Name : Helen Wiecek

Original Name : Joanne De Bergh

Gender : Female

Howard Smith

Character Name : K.L. Palmer

Original Name : Howard Smith

Gender : Male

Moroni Olsen

Character Name : Parole Board Chairman

Original Name : Moroni Olsen

Gender : Male

John McIntire

Character Name : Sam Faxon

Original Name : John McIntire

Gender : Male

Paul Harvey

Character Name : Martin J. Burns

Original Name : Paul Harvey

Gender : Male

Robert Adler

Character Name : Taxicab Driver (uncredited)

Original Name : Robert Adler

Gender : Male

Truman Bradley

Character Name : Narrator (voice) (uncredited)

Original Name : Truman Bradley

Gender : Male

Michael Chapin

Character Name : Frank Wiecek Jr. (uncredited)

Original Name : Michael Chapin

Gender : Male

James Dime

Character Name : Poker Player (uncredited)

Original Name : James Dime

Gender : Male

Rex Downing

Character Name : Copy Boy (uncredited)

Original Name : Rex Downing

Gender : Male

Ben Erway

Character Name : Photo Lab Technician (uncredited)

Original Name : Ben Erway

Gender : Male

Helen Foster

Character Name : Secretary (uncredited)

Original Name : Helen Foster

Gender : Female

Jonathan Hale

Character Name : Governor's Aide Robert Winston (uncredited)

Original Name : Jonathan Hale

Gender : Male

Percy Helton

Character Name : Mailman William Decker (uncredited)

Original Name : Percy Helton

Gender : Male

Samuel S. Hinds

Character Name : Judge Charles Moulton (uncredited)

Original Name : Samuel S. Hinds

Gender : Male

Charles Lane

Character Name : Prosecuting Attorney (uncredited)

Original Name : Charles Lane

Gender : Male

E.G. Marshall

Character Name : Rayska (uncredited)

Original Name : E.G. Marshall

Gender : Male

Addison Richards

Character Name : State Commissioner John Albertson (uncredited)

Original Name : Addison Richards

Gender : Male

Lionel Stander

Character Name : Wiecek's Cellmate Corrigan (uncredited)

Original Name : Lionel Stander

Gender : Male

Otto Waldis

Character Name : Boris Siskovich (uncredited)

Original Name : Otto Waldis

Gender : Male

Wanda Perry

Character Name : Chicago Times Telophone Reporter (uncredited)

Original Name : Wanda Perry

Gender : Female

Richard Bishop

Character Name : Warden of Stateville Prison (uncredited)

Original Name : Richard Bishop

Gender : Male

Larry J. Blake

Character Name : Police Photographic Technician (uncredited)

Original Name : Larry J. Blake

Gender : Male

John Bleifer

Character Name : Jan Gruska (uncredited)

Original Name : John Bleifer

Gender : Male

Dollie Caillet

Character Name : Secretary (uncredited)

Original Name : Dollie Caillet

Gender : Male

Al Capone

Character Name : Capone (archive footage) (uncredited)

Original Name : Al Capone

Gender : Male

George Cisar

Character Name : Policeman (uncredited)

Original Name : George Cisar

Gender : Male

Jane Crowley

Character Name : Anna Felczak (uncredited)

Original Name : Jane Crowley

Gender : Female

John Dillinger

Character Name : Dillinger (archive footage) (uncredited)

Original Name : John Dillinger

Gender : Male

Abe Dinovitch

Character Name : Polish Man (uncredited)

Original Name : Abe Dinovitch

Gender : Male

Eddie Dunn

Character Name : Patrolman John W. Bundy (uncredited)

Original Name : Eddie Dunn

Gender : Male

Lew Eckles

Character Name : Policeman (uncredited)

Original Name : Lew Eckles

Gender : Male

Joseph Forte

Character Name : Parole Board Member (uncredited)

Original Name : Joseph Forte

Gender : Male

Stanley Gordon

Character Name : Prison Clerk (uncredited)

Original Name : Stanley Gordon

Gender : Male

Walter Greaza

Character Name : Police Capt. Norris (uncredited)

Original Name : Walter Greaza

Gender : Male

Buck Harrington

Character Name : Bartender (uncredited)

Original Name : Buck Harrington

Gender : Male

Perry Ivins

Character Name : Illinois State Journal Technician (uncredited)

Original Name : Perry Ivins

Gender : Male

Robert Karnes

Character Name : Pete (uncredited)

Original Name : Robert Karnes

Gender : Male

Leonarde Keeler

Character Name : Leonarde Keeler (uncredited)

Original Name : Leonarde Keeler

Gender : Male

Cy Kendall

Character Name : Second Bartender (uncredited)

Original Name : Cy Kendall

Gender : Male

J.M. Kerrigan

Character Name : Sullivan - Court Bailiff (uncredited)

Original Name : J.M. Kerrigan

Gender : Male

Carl Kroenke

Character Name : Guard (uncredited)

Original Name : Carl Kroenke

Gender : Male

Paul Kruger

Character Name : Detective (uncredited)

Original Name : Paul Kruger

Gender : Male

Henry Kulky

Character Name : First Bartender (uncredited)

Original Name : Henry Kulky

Gender : Male

Philip Lord

Character Name : Policeman (uncredited)

Original Name : Philip Lord

Gender : Male

Jack Mannick

Character Name : Polish man (uncredited)

Original Name : Jack Mannick

Gender : Male

Norman McKay

Character Name : Detective (uncredited)

Original Name : Norman McKay

Gender : Male

George Melford

Character Name : Parole Board Member (uncredited)

Original Name : George Melford

Gender : Male

Charles Miller

Character Name : Parole Board Member (uncredited)

Original Name : Charles Miller

Gender : Male

George Pembroke

Character Name : Policeman (uncredited)

Original Name : George Pembroke

Gender : Male

Arthur Peterson

Character Name : Keeler's Polygraph Assistant (uncredited)

Original Name : Arthur Peterson

Gender : Male

Joe Ploski

Character Name : Polish Man (uncredited)

Original Name : Joe Ploski

Gender : Male

William Post Jr.

Character Name : Sixth Precinct Desk Sergeant (uncredited)

Original Name : William Post Jr.

Gender : Male

Thelma Ritter

Character Name : Captain's Secretary (uncredited)

Original Name : Thelma Ritter

Gender : Female

Richard Rober

Character Name : Sgt. Larson (uncredited)

Original Name : Richard Rober

Gender : Male

Dick Ryan

Character Name : Parole Board Member (uncredited)

Original Name : Dick Ryan

Gender : Male

Peter Seal

Character Name : Minor Role (uncredited)

Original Name : Peter Seal

Gender : Male

Lester Sharpe

Character Name : Illinois State Journal Technician (uncredited)

Original Name : Lester Sharpe

Gender : Male

George Spaulding

Character Name : Man on Parole Board (uncredited)

Original Name : George Spaulding

Gender : Male

Ray Spiker

Character Name : Barfly (uncredited)

Original Name : Ray Spiker

Gender : Male

Ann Staunton

Character Name : Chicago Times Telephone Operator (uncredited)

Original Name : Ann Staunton

Gender : Female

Freddie Steele

Character Name : Holdup Man (uncredited)

Original Name : Freddie Steele

Gender : Male

George Turner

Character Name : Holdup Man (uncredited)

Original Name : George Turner

Gender : Male

George Tyne

Character Name : Tomek Zaleska (uncredited)

Original Name : George Tyne

Gender : Male

Bill Vendetta

Character Name : Chicago Times Photographer (uncredited)

Original Name : Bill Vendetta

Gender : Male

Duke Watson

Character Name : Policeman (uncredited)

Original Name : Duke Watson

Gender : Male

Robert B. Williams

Character Name : Illinois State Journal Technician

Original Name : Robert B. Williams

Gender : Male

Edward Peil Jr.

Character Name : Bartender (uncredited)

Original Name : Edward Peil Jr.

Gender : Male

Reviews

J

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

This is a true story. When a patrol cop is shot and killed, small time crook Frank Wiecek is tried for the crime and promptly sentenced to life imprisonment. Some 11 years on, tough cookie reporter P.J. McNeal gets involved with the case, the further he delves, the more he believes that Wiecek is innocent, but can he find evidence to back up his belief? Filmed in semi-documentary style by director Henry Hathaway, this James Stewart led noir thriller oozes realism from start to finish. It's actually the lack of gloss and glamour that is the film's trump card. Based on the real story of the Joe Majczek case in 1933, it's filmed perfectly on location in Chicago {where the actual events happened}, gloriously mood emphasised by Joe MacDonald's superb black & white cinematography, and scored with tonal adroitness by Alfred Newman. As intrepid Chicago Times reporter McNeal (based on real reporter Jim McGuire who was a Pulitzer Prize winner for his investigative efforts on this case), James Stewart lays down a marker for the more edgier character roles that would follow for him in the 50s. Here he plays it perfect as McNeal shifts from mere cynical newsman to an outright crusader of justice; and it's riding along with McNeal that this human interest piece lifts itself to great crime thriller heights. Along the way we find problems are encountered and police procedural techniques are scrutinised. All may not be as it first seemed, and this mysterious element ices what was already a delightful docu-drama based cake. There is not much else to say, it's a film I personally highly recommend, a fascinating story that is given top care and attention from all involved, mean, moody and yes, magnificent. 8/10

C

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2022-07-09

James Stewart and Lee J. Cobb are both on top form in this crime thriller. The latter, the boss who sends the former, one of his better reporters, to investigate the case of convicted murderer "Frank Wiecek" (Richard Conte) after his mother puts an ad in a newspaper offering $5000 for information that might cast doubt on the voracity of the verdict. Initially sceptical, "McNeal", soon begins to suspect that perhaps the conviction - based solely on the testament of a long lost witness "Wanda Skutnik" - might be flawed. Now, he has to deal with understandable hostility from the Chicago PD as well as manage the hopeful optimism of the man's mother as his search involves some risk to himself, the gut instinct innate to a good journalist and the innovative use of state of the art technology (for the 1940s) to try and get the evidence to enable a pardon board to reverse the sentence. Aside from a slightly over-bearing narrator, Henry Hathaway manages to build the tension and keep it going well for a strong last hour of the picture with a lovely, grittily jazzy score from Alfred Newman. Not seen very often nowadays, but if you get a chance - it's well worth two hours of anyone's time.